Youth Justice

Here you can find information on Northern Ireland’s youth justice system, the work of the Youth Justice Agency (YJA) and help for children involved in offending behaviour. The youth justice system refers to all parts of the criminal justice system that interact with children including the work of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Public Prosecution Service, and the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service, as well as the YJA.

Youth Justice Agency

Here you will find information about the work of the Youth Justice Agency, including its structure, governance and the services it delivers to children in the justice system, and their families.

Going to Court? Help for children and families

Going through a court process can be difficult, especially if it is your first time and you do not know what to expect. This page provides some help and advice for children and their families on what to expect before, during and after a youth court appearance.

Strategic Framework for Youth Justice

Published in 2022, the Strategic Framework for Youth Justice drives the policy and operational delivery of youth justice in Northern Ireland. This section provides a range of information on this work, including Annual Progress Reports on implementation of the Framework.

Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility

In Northern Ireland, children can be held criminally responsible for offending behaviour from the age of 10. This is called the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility, or MACR for short.

Other information on the Youth Justice System

Further information on the Youth Justice System, including prosecution decisions and types of sentences children can receive for offending, can be found on NI Direct.

Translation help

Select a language